2011 BMW M3 Reviews, Pricing & Specs

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$55,900 to $67,550

Original MSRP

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expert review

4.5

avg user rating

(35 reviews)
2011 BMW M3 Preview summaryImage

It’s too easy to address the glorious engine of the M3 and gloss over the real strong suit of the Deutsche Dagger – its handling. With a 4.0-liter V8 that produces 414 hp at an oxygen-deprived height of 8,300 rpm, it has to handle well, lest drivers end up stuffing it in their nearest apex. But skid-pad statistics don’t have the same visceral impact as dyno readouts, even when approaching 1g.

Not that 414 horses and a 4.5-second 0-60 time aren’t impressive, especially when they come from a naturally aspirated engine that winds up to more than 8,000 rpm. The fact that you can have that in a luxury vehicle in coupe, sedan, or convertible style only lends credence to the legendary status of this most famous of high-performance German automobiles. However, what the M3 has in horsepower, it lacks in torque. With 295 lb-ft, only the base 3 Series trim has less, and the M’s torque arrives later as well, at 3,900 rpm – but whip it like Devo said and she’ll go like crazy.

With the coupe, you’ll get a carbon-fiber roof that lowers both the car's profile and its center of gravity. If you’d like a bit more air and light, you can swap the carbon for a traditional steel roof with a sunroof, and there’s always the convertible option – although that comes with a large penalty for the trip to 60, mostly due to its 441-pound retractable power hardtop.

The M3 comes standard with a six-speed manual, but is offered with BMW’s M-DKG Getrag double-clutch gearbox, a seven-speed shiftable automatic that offers shifts in less than a tenth of a second and is claimed to reduce the car's 0-60 time by two tenths of a second. Still, it’s not a perfect system, as the transitions, especially in harsh downshifting, could use some smoothing. The six-speed has the familiar feather-light clutch, which some feel is even too light, but otherwise is a wholly competent and comfortable setup.

Coupes and sedans offer an optional Competition Package that includes 19-inch alloys with performance tires, a lowered and recalibrated suspension, stability control, and programmable Electronic Damping Control with Comfort, Normal, and Sport modes. Testers have found that Normal mode is a perfect blend, offering comfortable absorption with performance that will far surpass the ability and courage of most drivers out there.

Not forgetting the luxury part of its heritage, the BMW M3 offers several features and packages, including a Premium Package with power-folding automatic mirrors, Bluetooth, and BMW Assist. A Technology Package will get you EDC, keyless ignition and entry, and iDrive, and the Cold Weather Package includes heated front seats and headlight washers, although most options can be added as individual features to any trim.

The M3 keeps getting bigger, heavier, and, of course, faster. Still, it represents the best blend of luxury and performance in the segment, and nothing can touch its handling. This may be the last naturally aspirated M3 for a while, so the urgency is as high as it can get for something as unnecessary as a hyper-performance luxury car. If you’ve got an extra 60 grand lying around, and a desire for an inanimate object to show you just how inadequate your driving skills are, you can’t do better than the M3.

Michael Perkins
Published May 31, 2022 by Michael Perkins
A CarGurus contributor since 2008, Michael started his career writing about cars with the SCCA - winning awards during his time as editor of Top End magazine. Since then, his journalistic travels have taken him from NY to Boston to CA, completing a cross-country tour on a restored vintage Suzuki. While his preference is for fine German automobiles - and the extra leg room they so often afford - his first automobile memories center around impromptu Mustang vs. Corvette races down the local highway, in the backseat of his father's latest acquisition.

User reviews for 2011 BMW M3

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User rating:
by yingze w
Dec 12, 2024
car is good everything good little over price is okDec 12, 2024
by George F
Sep 16, 2024
I had the opportunity to own one of these for a few months and it was a 10/10 experience. This car possesses an engine that nowadays is only seen in the Porsche 911 GT3, this 4.0L V8 will always put a smile on your face. I daily drove an E93 for a few months and it was a great experience. It offers a great bang for buck performance option that if you are skilled with working on BMWs can be a fantastic performance car. The seats are comfortable, the DCT is snappy and responsive and I would personally take it over the manual ( I have driven multiple manuals). The exterior design is functional, refined and modest compared to its contemporary counterpart. The handling is greatly improved over the E46 Convertibles and outside of track use, the handling difference would be hardly noticeable compared to the E92. This is not a car you own if you care about fuel economy or neglecting maintenance. If you daily drive, you will be filling up twice a week. This is not a car where you can skip maintenance, as it will become costly. If you are not a technician then expect to pay more in maintenance, especially for rod bearings. If you are not doing the repairs yourself, I would budget 5000 for annual maintenance and take it to a reputable independent BMW shop. My recommendation when looking at these cars is finding one with good recent service history. Most of the issues with these cars are over exaggerated and can be overwhelming to think about when looking but if you find the right car with the right history you will be smiling all the way to 8500 rpms. Sep 16, 2024
by Kurtis A
Jun 12, 2024
I have owned a 2011 E92 M3 Competition Package for just shy of 5 years. This car has been nothing shy of a dream come true and I fully understand why they are becoming more and more sought after. 2011 was the first Life Cycle Impulse (LCI) year for the E9X M3 Coupe, and the first year that the Competition Package was offered. You cant go wrong with any year from 2008 - 2013, but 2011+ is typically deemed the most desirable with the various changes that were made for LCI that make it feel a little less dated. Whether you are a fan of the engaging 6-speed manual, or the very fast and sporty Dual Clutch, you are making the right choice either way. The options that were offered on this generation M3 made it very bespoke and its rare to find a car with the same exact specifications - this makes it that much more special to own. The driving experience is like none other. The high-revving 4.0L naturally-aspirated V8 is addicting. Even though this platform cant compete with cars that are being produced today in terms of speed & acceleration, the pure driving feel is enough to put power & torque on the sidelines and just enjoy driving the car. Even after 5 years of ownership, I have never been able to push the car to its limit, but a competent driver is always right on the edge of too far. The current generation M3s have too much power where you really cant use nearly all of it safely. The E9X M3 chassis was truly the perfect just the right amount to enjoy on the edge, but never feel unsafe doing so. I cant say enough good things about this car, and everyone who has owned a well taken care of example (hint hint) knows that you dont just own one of these cars, you are a caretaker of what I absolutely consider the best generation M3 ever built.Jun 12, 2024

2011 BMW M3 Pricing

Original MSRP
$55,900 to $67,550
Price range
$30,035 to $32,209
Average price on CG
$31,418
YoY price change
$30,035 to $31,418

Trims & specs

Air Conditioning

Active charcoal air filtration · Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Dual front air conditioning zones

Airbags

Dual front airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Front side curtain airbags

Audio System

Antenna Type: diversity · Auxiliary audio input: iPod/iPhone · Single disc in-Dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · HD radio · Sirius Satellite Radio · Total Number of Speakers: 10

Brakes

ABS: 4-wheel · Front brake diameter: 14.2 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 13.8 · Rear brakes: ventilated disc

Comfort Features

Armrests: rear center folding with storage · Center console trim: carbon and leather · Dash trim: carbon and leather · Door sill trim: aluminum · Door trim: wood · Floor Mats: front · Shift knob trim: leather · Steering wheel trim: leather

Convenience Features

Center console: front console with storage · Cupholders: rear · Dimming rearview mirror: auto-dimming · Memorized settings: driver seat · Multi-function remote: keyless entry · One-touch windows: 4 · Power outlet(s): 12V · Power steering: speed-proportional · Reading lights: rear · Steering wheel: tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: cruise controls · Storage: door pockets · Sunshade: side window · Universal garage door opener: Homelink · Vanity mirrors: dual illuminating

Driver Seat

Adjustable lumbar support: power · Power adjustments: 8

Drivetrain

Axle ratio: 3.85 · Locking differential: rear

Exterior Features

Exhaust: dual exhaust tips · Exhaust tip color: stainless-steel · Mirror color: body-color · Rear spoiler color: body-color

Header

Option Delete: Generic

Headrests

Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 2

Instrumentation

Warnings and reminders: low fuel level

Lights

Headlights: auto delay off · Taillights: adaptive

Mirrors

Exterior mirrors: power

Passenger Seat

Adjustable lumbar support: power · Power adjustments: 6

Rear Seats

Type: 60-40 split bench

Roof

Moonroof: sliding sunshade

Safety

Impact sensor: battery disconnect · Parking sensors: rear

Seatbelts

Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front

Seats

Driver seat power adjustments: height · Front seat type: sport bucket · Heated: front seats · Passenger seat power adjustments: reclining · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: premium leather

Suspension

Damper Control: electronic · Front Arm Type: lateral links · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link · Stabilizer bar(s): rear

Telematics

Navigation system: hard drive navigation system · Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth · Satellite communications: BMW Assist

Tires

Diameter: 19 · Type: performance

Tires and Rims

Wheels: chrome alloy

Windows

Front wipers: rain sensing

Air Conditioning

Active charcoal air filtration · Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Dual front air conditioning zones

Airbags

Dual front airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Rear side curtain airbags

Audio System

Antenna Type: diversity · USB auxiliary audio input · Single disc in-Dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · AM/FM radio · Satellite Radio: SiriusXM · Total Number of Speakers: 10

Brakes

ABS: 4-wheel · Front brake diameter: 14.2 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 13.8 · Rear brakes: ventilated disc

Comfort Features

Center console trim: carbon and leather · Dash trim: carbon and leather · Door sill trim: aluminum · Door trim: wood · Floor Mats: front · Shift knob trim: leather · Steering wheel trim: leather

Convenience Features

Center console: second row · Cupholders: rear · Dimming rearview mirror: auto-dimming · Memorized settings: side mirrors · Multi-function remote: keyless entry · One-touch windows: 2 · Power outlet(s): 12V · Power steering: speed-proportional · Reading lights: rear · Steering wheel: tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: audio · Storage: door pockets · Sunshade: power rear window · Universal garage door opener: Homelink · Vanity mirrors: dual illuminating

Driver Seat

Adjustable lumbar support: power · Power adjustments: 8

Drivetrain

Axle ratio: 3.85 · Locking differential: rear

Exterior Features

Exhaust: dual exhaust tips · Exhaust tip color: stainless-steel · Mirror color: body-color · Rear spoiler color: body-color

Header

Option Delete: Generic

Headrests

Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 2

Instrumentation

Warnings and reminders: coolant temperature warning

Lights

Headlights: cornering · Taillights: adaptive

Mirrors

Exterior mirrors: reverse gear tilt

Passenger Seat

Adjustable lumbar support: power · Power adjustments: 6

Rear Seats

Type: bucket

Roof

Moonroof: one-touch open/close

Safety

Impact sensor: door unlock · Parking sensors: rear

Seatbelts

Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front

Seats

Driver seat power adjustments: height · Front seat type: sport bucket · Heated: mulitlevel · Passenger seat power adjustments: reclining · Rear headrests: adjustable · Upholstery: premium leather

Suspension

Damper Control: electronic · Front Arm Type: lateral links · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link · Stabilizer bar(s): front

Telematics

Navigation system: with voice recognition · Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth · Satellite communications: BMW Assist

Tires

Diameter: 19 · Type: performance

Tires and Rims

Wheels: alloy

Windows

Front wipers: rain sensing

Air Conditioning

Active charcoal air filtration · Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Dual front air conditioning zones

Airbags

Dual front airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags

Audio System

Antenna Type: diversity · Auxiliary audio input: iPod/iPhone · Single disc in-Dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · HD radio · Sirius Satellite Radio · Total Number of Speakers: 10

Brakes

ABS: 4-wheel · Front brake diameter: 14.2 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 13.8 · Rear brakes: ventilated disc

Comfort Features

Center console trim: carbon and leather · Dash trim: carbon and leather · Door sill trim: aluminum · Door trim: alloy · Floor Mats: front · Shift knob trim: leather · Steering wheel trim: leather

Convenience Features

Center console: front console with armrest and storage · Cupholders: front · Dimming rearview mirror: auto-dimming · Memorized settings: driver seat · Multi-function remote: keyless entry · One-touch windows: 2 · Power outlet(s): 12V · Power steering: speed-proportional · Reading lights: front · Steering wheel: tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: audio · Storage: door pockets · Universal garage door opener: Homelink · Vanity mirrors: dual illuminating

Driver Seat

Adjustable lumbar support: power · Power adjustments: 8

Drivetrain

Axle ratio: 3.85 · Locking differential: rear

Exterior Features

Exhaust: dual exhaust tips · Exhaust tip color: stainless-steel · Front bumper color: body-color · Mirror color: body-color · Rear bumper color: body-color

Headrests

Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 2

Instrumentation

Warnings and reminders: coolant temperature warning

Lights

Headlight cleaners: heated · Headlights: Auto on/off · Taillights: adaptive

Mirrors

Exterior mirrors: power folding

Passenger Seat

Adjustable lumbar support: power · Power adjustments: 6

Rear Seats

Type: bucket

Roof

Convertible rear window: glass · Convertible roof: power retractable hard top

Safety

Impact sensor: battery disconnect · Parking sensors: rear

Seatbelts

Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front

Seats

Driver seat power adjustments: height · Front seat type: sport bucket · Heated: mulitlevel · Passenger seat power adjustments: reclining · Rear headrests: adjustable · Upholstery: leather

Suspension

Front Arm Type: lateral links · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link · Stabilizer bar(s): front

Telematics

Navigation system: with voice recognition · Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth · Satellite communications: BMW Assist

Tires

Diameter: 19 · Type: performance

Tires and Rims

Wheels: alloy

Windows

Front wipers: variable intermittent

See all trims (3)